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[Royce McCutcheon]

Melting Pot GAF, 2017 has been a real interesting year with Lord Trump presiding over the USA. It has emboldened the silent racist and justified the vocal ones. What's on my head is the way I've had to adjust in public to these changes. When I say hiding my Blackness, I mean doing things and behaving in a way that makes all the white people around me comfortable, something that was essential for me to learn going into my job. During the Obama years, I gotta say I felt pretty damn good to be black, had a nice strut to my step when he got into office.

Ever since trump got In, I can't get out of my head that at least half of America voted for this man. So when I'm out and about, I feel as if I'm in a place that doesn't want me. It's led me to quite a passive state of mind where in mousing around out in public, trying to feel/seem as small as possible. Like I'm one shoulder bump away from "Get over here nigger". It's not fear I don't think. I just want zero problems, and it feels like just by being alive, I've become a problem. I look like a stereotypical "Thug", I'm 6'3 with dreads and arms tats, been stopped and frisked more times than my hands and toes. I've had to walk around stores making sure the people watching me don't see my hands in my pockets. It feels like that all the time now. Idk GAF, is it paranoia if they are actually out to get you?

 

[Lil'DigiOp]

Fuck em.

They wanna be mad about some shit nobody can change. they can suck a dick.

 

[JCX]

After Trump won I was like fuck it, I'm gonna be extra black and gay from here on out.

 

[DrFunk]

Why is it your job to make white people comfortable?

 

[Enter The 36 Chambers]

Americans obsession with race is something I can never understand or "get".

But even still, just be your fucking self man.

 

[DonShula]

At least half of America did NOT vote for that man.

Most of us don't want him. And many who voted for him don't make the connection between him and racism (because they're ignorant or dumb or both).

 

[neojubei]

Why is it your job to make white people comfortable?

Because his life literally could be on the line

 

[rtcn63]

After Trump won I was like fuck it, I'm gonna be extra black and gay from here on out.

 

[Jules]

I'm white, and I grew up in a town where there weren't any blacks. I have never, EVER been afraid of a person, simply because of their color. I just don't even understand how this is a thing. White people are stupid when it comes to things such as this...

 

[obijkenobi]

Why is it your job to make white people comfortable?

Because Latinos (intersecrionality OP, I know what you mean) don't want to get shot by the police amd we want to move up amd get promotions. Not just for us, but for our kids too.

 

[DrFunk]

Because his life literally could be on the line

That makes sense, yeah

 

[DominoKid]

Trump shouldn't effect your day to day like this.

 

[Hypemaster]

I don't cater to idiots. Keep your head up champ.

 

[obijkenobi]

Trump shouldn't effect your day to day like this.

OP literally spelled it out. Its the policies Trump might enact that effect the OP and the assholes Trump emboldens.

You think the DoJ under Trump/Sessions is going after cops the same way they did under Obama?

 

[Royce McCutcheon]

That makes sense, yeah

When I was young and stupid I did a LOT of dumb shit that could have easily put me behind bars or dead. Angry and aggressive, fought whoever, I'm extremely lucky/thankful to be in the position I am in now. I have a fear of it all going away by fucking up, so I do everything I can to create a stable environment when I'm out and about.

Trump shouldn't effect your day to day like this.

He's the President

 

[JCX]

I was told there would be no cameras oh well

 

[OG Shaka Zulu]

At least half of America did NOT vote for that man.

Most White voters did though. I can relate to OP, its just a fact of life that most people in America in general do not look favorably on African-Americans. We know this early on in life. The election was a reminder for me but nothing new. Sometimes I do walk the streets smh at the fact that most Whites voted Trump but i can snap out of it with a shrug and a "well, what's new?". I've only ever been profiled twice though and don't have the repeated contact with police that OP has, and I'm suited or buttoned up most the day. I can see why OP is paranoid, being Black in the US can be a trip psychologically.

I'm white, and I grew up in a town where there weren't any blacks. I have never, EVER been afraid of a person, simply because of their color. I just don't even understand how this is a thing. White people are stupid when it comes to things such as this...

Lol. I never understood this either, I think it's absolutely crazy to be so fearful of strangers. I am Black and I've scared people to death just walking to the store to get my kid some milk.

 

[Skellig Gra]

You certainly have valid concerns OP. Just try to be yourself. Don't let these terrible people control your life.

 

[awilliams213]

 

[BitStyle]

Continue being you, OP. Trump ain't changed shit, just lured peeps to show their asses.
Embrace your blackness

 

[UnemployedVillain]

Because his life literally could be on the line

The type of people who would be scared by him and do something like that really wouldn't care whether he was acting polite, or keeping to himself, or any other measure to make them more "comfortable", as we've learned time and time again, so he might as well not concern himself with them

 

[FreeMufasa]

Americans obsession with race is something I can never understand or "get".
.

I'm always confused when Europeans post like this.

Do they mean from the point of the victims of racism or the powers/white people?

 

[Greenymac]

OP, I hear your concerns, but you can't hide your blackness. No matter how hard you try those same people will have those same biases towards you. Just live your life and fuck what others think.

 

[Goofalo]

Join the Huey P. Newton Gun Club

 

[Shredderi]

I'm always confused when Europeans post like this.

Do they mean from the point of the victims of racism or the powers/white people?

Most likely not understanding why white people make things so difficult to minorities in America. A lot of europeans don't understand the "why" of it. You have a lot of racism in Europe as well that is just as bad but originates from slightly different places. In Europe you see more racism towards cultures. It's less about skin color but different values in different cultures. Many Europeans think of america and think to themselves that Americans are basically people with the same core values so why be nasty towards different people based on skin color. Something along those lines I think.

 

[tbm24]

I understand what you mean. I'm the shade of brown where I've been mistaken for middle eastern relatively often at this point. Where I live I can say most people at my polling place voted for Trump. My brother in law didn't even vote the postures on Facebook as if Clinton not winning was for the best because Bernie Kool aid and so on. It's made it feel really weird to walk around my neighborhood. I haven't been able to talk much to my brother in law either since. It's hard for me to let go how okay with Trump he seemed to be, likely because as a white male he has shit to worry about.

I make it a point every other weekend to spend the day in my old Brooklyn neighborhood. Reminds me what feeling comfortable in my neighborhood feels like.

 

[What did he mean by this?]

did you not watch story of OJ?
youre not helping anything

 

[Mass Effect]

Why is it your job to make white people comfortable?

Because we don't wanna get shot.

 

[dskillzhtown]

After Trump won I was like fuck it, I'm gonna be extra black and gay from here on out.

This is me...except for the gay part. People are going to hate you for your skin color regardless of how you act. So be yourself. The people the OP is worried about are going to hate him if he is wearing a 3 piece suit, talking perfect english and have a super model on your arm. For those people it is about your skin. That's it. So be yourself, fuck the world.

 

[____]

This is me...except for the gay part. People are going to hate you for your skin color regardless of how you act. So be yourself. The people the OP is worried about are going to hate him if he is wearing a 3 piece suit, talking perfect english and have a super model on your arm. For those people it is about your skin. That's it. So be yourself, fuck the world.

Exactly this. I feel the OP 100% and those thoughts cross my mind also, but at the end of the day, it's not up to us to "prove" to racists and prejudiced people that we're harmless and (should) have the same rights as everyone else. Especially when JUST LIKE THEM, we're just living our lives.

At the end of the day, fuckem.

 

[FreeMufasa]

Most likely not understanding why white people make things so difficult to minorities in America. A lot of europeans don't understand the "why" of it. You have a lot of racism in Europe as well that is just as bad but originates from slightly different places. In Europe you see more racism towards cultures. It's less about skin color but different values in different cultures. Many Europeans think of america and think to themselves that Americans are basically people with the same core values so why be nasty towards different people based on skin color. Something along those lines I think.

Yea makes sense.

I remember after brexit, Americans couldn't understand why English people we're discriminating against poles etc

 

[methane47]

After Trump won I was like fuck it, I'm gonna be extra black and gay from here on out.

 

[hotcyder]

How much would it cost for this guy to do my backyard?

 

[HylianTom]

When this topic comes up, I remember the snide talk of the "liberal bubble" after the election, referring to deep-blue urban areas where Democrats rack-up their vote tallies.

I live in a county (well.. parish) where Donald Trump got an impressive 14% of the vote. Walking around the city, interacting with its people, knowing this.. it makes me feel good.

But if I go one county north, I'm in a place where Trump got 65% of the vote. Whenever I go there for a visit, I'm side-eyeing folks like crazy. And thoughts of the liberal bubble enter my mind.

If I'm a minority who's lucky enough to have a choice of where to live, why would I want to live in an area where so large a percentage of its voters cheer for the party that's either indifferent or hostile to my humanity?

/randomthoughts

 

[Violence Jack]

Walk with your head held high and don't hide shit. No one should live in fear.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Nah, fuck that. Blackness up to 11.

 

[iapetus]

Ever since trump got In, I can't get out of my head that at least half of America voted for this man.

They didn't. Less than half of the 58% of eligible people who voted voted for him.

If you take the total population of the US, probably less than 20% voted for Trump.

 

[YaBish]

They didn't. Less than half of the 58% of eligible people who voted voted for him.

If you take the total population of the US, probably less than 20% voted for Trump.

Exactly. When I did a speech on it a little bit after the election, the figure was at 27% of eligible voters voted for Trump. That's miniscule in the large scale of things, but it was enough to put him in office. That gives me at least a little hope on a day to day.

 

[Slayven]

I am not black, I am Slayven

 

[Captin Quacker]

Just tell'em you fell into a vat of chocolate pudding

 

[____]

I am not black, I am Slayven

.........k, then

 

[meppi]

How much would it cost for this guy to do my backyard?

Depends what you mean by that.

 

[TheOfficeMut]

Most White voters did though. I can relate to OP, its just a fact of life that most people in America in general do not look favorably on African-Americans. We know this early on in life. The election was a reminder for me but nothing new. Sometimes I do walk the streets smh at the fact that most Whites voted Trump but i can snap out of it with a shrug and a "well, what's new?". I've only ever been profiled twice though and don't have the repeated contact with police that OP has, and I'm suited or buttoned up most the day. I can see why OP is paranoid, being Black in the US can be a trip psychologically.

Lol. I never understood this either, I think it's absolutely crazy to be so fearful of strangers. I am Black and I've scared people to death just walking to the store to get my kid some milk.

The media we consume does a hell of a job in convincing us of certain stereotypes and biases.

 

[Jules]

Most White voters did though. I can relate to OP, its just a fact of life that most people in America in general do not look favorably on African-Americans. We know this early on in life. The election was a reminder for me but nothing new. Sometimes I do walk the streets smh at the fact that most Whites voted Trump but i can snap out of it with a shrug and a "well, what's new?". I've only ever been profiled twice though and don't have the repeated contact with police that OP has, and I'm suited or buttoned up most the day. I can see why OP is paranoid, being Black in the US can be a trip psychologically.

This white voter did not! I have a brother in law who is constantly spouting Trump rhetoric. I refuse to even speak politics with him. Drives me insane!

 

[Futureman]

At least half of America did NOT vote for that man.

Most of us don't want him. And many who voted for him don't make the connection between him and racism (because they're ignorant or dumb or both).

Also this is like doubly true if you live in a big city OP. Hopefully you aren't in Small Town, USA.

 

[djplaeskool]

Thankfully, Atlanta's demographics have sort of acted as a catalyst to activism and all-around togetherness in black and latinx communities I've not seen before. One of those perks of living in a liberal bastion of the South, I guess. Admittedly, while travelling out of the city, I go as incognegro as possible. I recently took a trip to Cherokee, NC, and yup, North Georgia is still Trump country, and they let you know it.

Spoiler

Ass, titties, ass and titties, ass ass titties titties, ass and titties

 

[Dre3001]

I was thinking along the exact same lines as the OP shortly after the election and I felt as if I was going crazy by the paranoia it brought.

I cant point to a specific date or event that happened, but recently i've just been thinking "fuck it" and just being myself.

As others have pointed out, people will hate you regardless of your clothes, actions, etc so why even give them the time of day when it wont make a difference.

 

[iapetus]

Most White voters did though.

That depends on whether by 'voter' you mean person who actually voted, or person who was eligible to vote. If the latter, then again, they didn't. Not even white men.

 

[Trojita]

If it makes you feel better, technically less than a quarter of the population of voting age adults actually voted for him.

 

[pokeystaples]

Nah, man. I am moving in the exact opposite direction. Something about knowing I could be on the receiving end of some white foolishness has caused quite the rise in my give no fucks meter. I bought into respectability politics for a long time. Trump's America flushed that down the toilet.